■ 



E 83 
.835 
X52 



r aM* 1 Ho. of Reps. 
25th Congress, [ RoC. ISo. 485. | 

2d Session^ • po^o G^v^^^n ^ 

SEMINOLE AND CHEROKEE INDIANS. 



MEMORIAL 

OF 

THE CHEROKEE MEDIATORS, 

March 26, 1838. 



Refi 



erred to the Committee on Indian Affairf. 



To Ike honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
l " states in Congress assembled : 

• , , m! nptiiion of the undersigned, a deputation appointed 
Th , 6 IZST^rSS Chief of the Cherokee nation, on behalf and 
Ste*. S o? the United States, to mediate for peace w.lh 
the Seminoleans in Florida, 

RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH '. 

That after the arrival, in September, 1S37, of a special agent from the 
-Jed States your memorialists were selected, by the principal cmef of 
^r nadon or a mission to mediate for peace between the Semmoieans, 
n Fioiida and the United States of North America. 

Th- , rdlsion in question was proposed, in the first instance, by a spe- 
• T Tom the United States, Colonel John H. Sherburne ; but as 
£ sXspS agent did not appear to be prepared with a sufficiently 
la exv lam tion of his views, and a sufficiently distinct evidence o, his 
clea. ^P'anatio. delegation, was on n.s way 

^ wl l hV,^ on P po 'ler business,') before acting upon the suggestions 
offere considered it to be expedient for him, personally, to ascertain 
SSe States Government what the scope o the proposed rris- 
Jion was to be, and how far it was sanctioned and to be sustained by the 

E FromWashin 5 ton, the principal chief apprized the regular authorities 
it of to Cherokee nation that he had had the necessary understanding with 
the Secretary of War ; and, in due course, we received from our princ - 
S chie f a letter of instructions, dated October 30, 1837, a copy of which 
is herewith submitted, No. 1; and at the same time we received a 
talk dated October IS, 1S37, from our principal chief, to be delivered by 
us in his name, to the chiefs, headmen, and warriors, of the Seminole* 
of' Florida. A copv of this talk is here annexed, bearing the No. 2 

In the course of the conversations with your memorialists regarding 
this mission, the special agent of the United States distinctly and repeat- 

Thomas Mien, print. 



2 [ Doc. No, 2c5. ] 

edly assured us, not only that our expenses would be paid, but that com- 
pensation for the time employed by us, certainly not less than live dol- 
lars a day for each, and more likely eight, might be relied on ; and that 

ZluurV e ?Tc SUC n SS in ° Ur ob J ec ^ ^ very liberal compiimen't 
might be anticipated from Congress. All these expectations were held 
out o us by the special agent of the United States,' Colonel John H. 
Sherburne, entirely of his own accord, and without any solicitation or 
even hint, on our part. 

After your memorialists departed on this mission, they met the special 
agent of tne United States at Augusta, in Georgia, and proceeded to 
h orida in his company. On the 13th of November, 1837, they received 
a letter from Major General Jesup, which will be found among the ac 
comparing documents, No. 3, and which represents of the plan disclo- 
sed to him on their introductory interview, that it was « highly satisfacto- 
ry ; and that he " appreciated fully the benevolent and humane motives 
which had impelled our chief to order, and us to undertake, the perilous 
enterprise." What said the general, when that "perilous enterprise" 
had been accomplished? An enterprise, the entire peril of which though 
your memorialists always knew it to be great, has, only within a few days 
been made known to them by a Seminolean now in Washington • for 
while the chiefs were in, under a flag of truce, it had been secretly de- 
termined by the Seminoleans that your memorialists should be slain in 
consequence of a suspicion raised up against them of treachery, as false 
mediators. What said the general, after their escape from this " perilows 
enterprise ?» He writes to them, December 15, 1837, on their depar- 
ture from Florida, (see No. 4,) " I seize the occasion to assure you of 
the respect I entertain for you, collectively and individually; a respect 
inspired alike by your official conduct and personal deportment." " I 
shall, on every occasion, bear testimony to the zealous and untiring ef- 
forts you have made, and the hazards you have encountered, in fulfilling 
the duties assigned to you by your chief." " In returning to your home* 
you have my best wishes for the peace, prosperity, and happiness, of your- 
selves and your people." And in further evidence that thev were ac- 
knowledged to have performed what they undertook, to the entire satis- 
faction of the general, he writes on the same day to the Secretary of 
War, concerning the Cherokee deputation, " It is due to justice that I 
should express to you the high sense which i entertain of their charac- 
ter and conduct ; they have acted with the most untiring zeal and ear- 
nestness." " I consider it due to them, as well as to myself, to assure 
you of my belief that they have acted, throughout, in perfect good faith 
and with a sincere desire to serve you and our country, and'to benefit 
the Indians by enlightening them in regard to their true interests " 

And your memorialists were afterwards surprised by a course of con- 
duct towards the Seminoleans, on the part of General Jesup, calculated 
to discredit them with those to whom they were sent as mediators and 
utterly incompatible with all the expectations with which they went upon 
the mission. Into this point, however, it is unnecessary for them now 
to enter. Towards the close of December, 1837, they were in Savan- 
nah, on their return from Florida, and prepared, in obedience to the in- 
structions of their principal chief, to go back to their homes, considering 
their mission at an end. 



[ Doc. No. 285. ] 



3 



At Savannah, however, the special agent of the United States renew- 
ed his representations of the service your memorialists might render, by 
continuing with him, for purposes which will appear in the letter ad- 
dressed by their principal chief to the Secretary of War, and, among the 
documents, bearing the No. 11. 

Your memorialists, though urgently called by domestic and business 
affairs to their homes, were induced by the earnest solicitations of the 
special agent of the United States, enforced by the arguments of an offi- 
cer in the army and others, to remain with the said special agent, and to 
accompany him to Washington. They were led by the special agent to 
believe that, even after this, the Government would require a new mis- 
sion to the Seminoleans, in which their aid would be all-important ; and 
they did not regard the sacrifice of their private claims, when they im- 
agined they could promote the public good. 

The arrival of your memorialists at Washington was officially announc- 
ed by their principal chief to the Secretary of W r ar, as will be seen in 
document No. 5. They refer to the letter No. 11, which has already 
been quoted, to prove that, after being brought to Washington by the 
special agent of the United States, all the official communications, either 
with them personally, or relating to them, on the part of their principal 
chief, concur to show that they had every reason to consider themselves 
as detained at Washington to await the completion of such arrangements 
as must precede the renewal of their mission to the Seminoleans. 

But your memorialists, after having incurred very heavy expenses, 
were first astonished, by some untraceable rumors of a charge of treach- 
ery in their mission ; concerning which they have in vain demanded an 
explanation from the proper authorities. And after this they learned, 
with astonishment still greater, that steps were taken which rendered it 
impossible for them longer to believe that any new mission to the Sem- 
inoleans could be intended. 

Perplexed by these inscrutable movements, your memorialists applied 
to the Secretary of War for information as to his further expectations 
from them, and, to their amazement, found that he disclaimed all knowl- 
edge of their business at Washington, and absolutely refused to recog- 
nise them as having been employed by the Government subsequently to 
their return from Florida to Savannah. 

This denial of their claim will be found in Nos. 6, 7, S, 9, 10, 12, and 
11, already quoted. And the claim itself will be found in No. 13. The 
circumstances under which their demand has been reduced are consider- 
ed so unjust that they have thought proper to decline receiving the pit- 
tance tendered. In adopting the extremely vexatious and injurious 
measure, of which they have such reason to complain, the Secretary of 
War has never yet attempted to deny any one particular of all that they 
have stated. They have reiterated every circumstance before the Sec- 
retary of War, in the presence of Colonel John H. Sherburne, the spe- 
cial agent himself, who has listened without offering the slightest contra- 
diction. The Secretary of War expressly assures them that he does not 
dispute their assertions, but that he cannot sustain Colonel John H. Sher- 
burne in the course which he has adopted. 

Your memorialists are now forced to appeal to Congress. Your hon- 
orable bodies will feel that it must cost your memorialists great anguish 



4 [ Doc. No. 285. J 

to be brought under this humiliating necessity, and will therefore pardon 
them for giving you the inconvenience of listening to what they would 
have been mucn better pleased never to have been compelled to utter 
Iney risked their lives, and they sacrificed their time and interests in 
the earnest and animating endeavor to mediate with success : an en- 
deavor so lar from being defeated by any error on their pait, that all the 
steps they too* in it, independently, were not only successful, but ap- 
plauded ever, m writing by the commandant of the American army: 
and, having done all this, they deemed it hard to be told they were 
charged with treachery, and not to be told by whom or how. But they 
did not conceive it possible for them to be exposed to any still more "•ail- 
ing injury. If dismissed, they supposed, at least, the pecuniary part of 
the promises made to them would be fulfilled. They could not have 
dreamed that, by any possibility, they could have been called upon, after 
enduring unmerited dishonor, to be the victims of a pecuniary misunder- 
standing between the Government and one of its accredited represent- 
atives. r 

To your memorialists it appears, that if the individual in question has 
exceeded his authority, he himself ought to meet the consequences, and 
not they who trusted the Government upon the faith of its agent 
And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray. 

HAIR CONRAD, his + mark. 

JESSE BUSHYHEAD. 

THOMAS WOODWARD, his -4- mark. 

RICHARD FIELDS. 

MAJOR POLECAT, his + mark. 

Washington City, 

March 21, 1838. 



No. I. 

Washington City, 

October 20, 1837. 

„ Gentlemen: I regret that a different course has been taken by Colonel 
Sherburne than the one agreed upon between him and myself on our 
separation at the agency, and which was made known to you, in regard 
to his returning to Washington, &c; not that I believe any 'iniuryhas 
resulted from the course taken, but because it was calculated to "throw a 
mist over the true understanding, which might have led to embarrass- 
ment in my intercourse with the Secretary of War, in reference to the 
contemplated mission to Florida, and which has actually caused some 
trouble and delay in the business. It is due to truth and justice, and no 
less to our own reputation in the matter, that we should act with a clear 
and distinct understanding with the officers of Government, in reference 
to the mediation. As much depends upon our mutual confidence and co- 
operation to ensure success in this important mission, I have deemed it 
proper to make these remarks, that you may be particularly guarded 
against giving sanction to any steps which, by possibility, may be con- 
strued into an act of your own, to the disadvantage of the cause in which 
you are engaged, I have had a free and full conversation with the Sec- 



[ Doc. No. 285. J 



re'ary of Wat on the subject of this affair; and he has given sanction to 
our mediation, and approves of the talk, which is herewith enclosed for 
the Seminoles, which you will deliver In person. The Secretary is de- 
sirous that these people should be fully impressed with his sincerity m 
the sentiments which he has authorized to be communicated to them. 
The Secretary says, that he was informed Oseola had, on a former occa- 
sion, killed a chief of distinction in his own tribe; that the friends of the 
deceased chief, who have emigrated West, threaten revenge on Oseola 
should he ever go there; and should this produce any difficulty with 
Oseola, as respects going with his people to the West, the Secretary of 
War says that he might associate himself with any other tribe who 
would be willing to adopt him into their nation; at all events, he shall 
have the right of exercising his own discretion on the subject. I can- 
not believe, myself, from the reputed standing of this man with his own 
people, that any fears are entertained by him upon that point ; should you 
succeed in your mission of peace, the Secretary of War is willing for you 
to come on'here with Colonel Sherburne, and also a delegation from the 
Seminoles, if they desire to send one ; or, otherwise, if your mission 
fails, then it would be unnecessary for you to come on, but that you may 
return home from Charleston. General Jesup is the officer to whom the 
whole business of negotiating a treaty of peace with the Seminoles has 
been intrusted, as I am informed by the- Secretary of War; consequent- 
ly, your movement in this matter must be fully made known to him ; you 
are only to act the part of mediators for the restoration of peace between 
the Seminoles and the United States ; and whilst it will be your duty to 
advise these people for their own welfare, under all circumstances, to 
negotiate peace with the United States, you must by ail means avoid 
being instrumental in persuading them to the agreement, in their treaty, 
of any other particular measure, which might be chargeable to you, should 
any dissatisfaction ever grow out of the same hereafter. But, should the 
Seminole chiefs ask it of you, as a matter of favor, to use your influence 
with the officers of Government for the favorable consideration of any 
measure they may propose or desire, which may appear to you to be 
reasonable and just, there will be no impropriety in your compliance, and 
it will be your duty to do so. It will not be proper for you to speak to 
the Seminoles on the subject of our own affairs generally, or to speculate 
on the probable result of our own mission here, further than I have done 
in my address to them ; great prudence and good management, for getting 
a peaceable access to these people will be required, and much will de- 
pend upon your own judgment, from your inherent knowledge of the In- 
dian character, of the steps which ought to be taken ; you must therefore 
confer freely and fully with General Jesup on this point, so as to act under 
his entire approbation in the course which you may take on the occasion, 
if you once'get access to the chiefs, and obtain a meeting with them, so 
as to enable you to make them an introductory address in the presenta- 
tion of my talk, &c, I cannot doubt your success, provided the opera- 
tions on the part of the officers be judiciously arranged for getting a full 
meeting of the chiefs thereafter in councillor negotiating the terms of 
peace with them ; to ensure which, I trust that an armistice will be 
promptly granted ; unless this takes place, it would seem to me impossible 
to secure confidence enough in the Seminoles to effect the great object 



6 [ Doc. No. 235. ] 

of negotiating a permanent treaty of peace with them ; you will, of course, 
previous to leaving Charleston, provide yourselves with pipe and tobacco, 
to be delivered with my talk. You will keep minutes of all your pro- 
ceedings, and report the same to me regularly. The object of your mis- 
sion being simply to endeavor to restore peace and friendship between 
the Semmotes and the United States, with the approbation of the Sec- 
retary of War, it is unnecessary that I should say anything more than 
what is contained m my address to that people and in this letter, as you will 
be fuiiy enabled by them to shape your communications with the Semi- 
noles accordingly ; and the course which you take in this matter, I again 
repeat, must be with the full knowledge of the officers of the United 
States. Wishing you health and success in your peaceful mission, my 
colleagues join me in their respects to you and Colonel Sherburne. 

Your friend, and obedient servant, 

™ rk JOHN ROSS. 

1 o Messrs. Conrad, ] 

BtJSHYHEAD, ! nj j . ci J7 „ 

Fields, and \ Charlesion , South Carolina. 
Woodward, J 

We certify that this is the letter of instructions under which we acted 
as mediators, on amission of peace to the Seminoles of Florida. 

HAIR CONRAD, his + mark. 

JESSE BUSHYHEAD. 

THOMAS WOODWARD, his +mark, 

RICHARD FIELDS. 

MAJOR POLECAT, his + mark, 

Interpreter. 

No. 2. 

To the Chiefs, Headmen, and Warriors, of the Seminoles of Florida. 

I address you in the name of the Cherokee nation, as its principal chief r 
and with the feelings of a brother hold out to you the hand of friendship! 
I am of the aboriginal race of the red-man of this great island, and so are 
you. The path which leads from my council fire to that of yours is a 
long one, and there has been no intercourse between us; my native lan- 
guage is different from that of yours, and we are strangers to each other. 
Yet, the time was, when our ancestors once smoked the pipe of peace 
together ; therefore, I ask you to listen to my talk; do not let my words 
enter in one ear and pass through the other, like the listless wind, but 
receive them firmly into your hearts, because they emanate from' the 
purest feelings of my own heart for your welfare. 

Brothers, listen ! I have heard of the gloom which overspreads your 
land, of the loud mutterings of the big gun, and the shrill echo of the 
war-whoop. Alas ! of the hostile blow which has been struck between you 
and our white brethren. This is bad news, and it makes me feel sorry. 
Perchance, you may have heard that the Cherokees are also in trouble 
about their own lands ; this is true ; but I have spoken to my people, and 
they have listened. I told them -to remember the language of President 
Washington, and that of his illustrious successors, and to hold fast to the 
faith of treaties, which, by mutual consent, had been solemnly pledged 



[ Doc. No. 235. ] 7 

between our nation and the United States. That the laws and treaties 
for the security and protection of our rights were the only weapons with 
which we must defend them. That, if it has been our misfortune to suffer 
wrongs from the hands of our white brethren, we should not despair oi 
having justice still extended to us by the United States. 

Brothers, I am now in the beloved city where our father, tne Presi- 
dent of the United States, is seated, and his great councils are held 1 
have with me a delegation of chosen men, sent by the council ol my 
nation for the purpose of endeavoring to settle all our differences with 
our white brethren upon peaceable and friendly terms. Since our arri- 
val here, we have met with delegations of red-men irom several ol the 
northern tribes; among them we have seen Black Hawk, of whom you 
may have heard something. They have all come on a peaceable mission 
to the Government of the United States, in relation to the affairs ot their 

respective nations. , , , , , 0 , e 

Brothers, I have shook the hands of our elder brother, the Secretary ot 
War and of our father, the President of the United States, and talked with 
them. I told our elder brother that it grieved my heart to hear oi the 
shedding of blood between our white and red brethren, the Semmoles ; 
and asked him if it could not be stopped, and healed by the balm of peace. 
He promptly replied, yes; and said that he had no desire to destroy the 
red-man, as it was the wish of his heart to treat them all with kindness 
and liberal justice ; and assured me that such were also the feelings of the 
President towards them ; but, that the Government could not take any 
steps in your affair which may be interpreted into an act of weakness ; 
vet, if your people desired peace, and would lay aside your warlike atti- 
tude, and come in, that a treaty of peace would be negotiated with you 
under the authority of the President of the United States, ana that a veil 
shall be thrown over everything that had taken place during tne war, 
so that they may be covered, and never remembered or revenged, lhat 
you, Oseola Powell, and all others who may have been considered as 
principal actors in the conflict, shall be received into equal favor and 
protection with all the Seminoles, in the treaty of peace. 
* Brothers, I have truly related to you what has been said to me by.oqr 
elder brother, who represents our father, the President of the United 
States, in relation to your nation. I believe his words to have been 
uttered with a sincere heart. I have therefore profiered to become 
mediator, for the restoration of peace and friendship between you ana 
our white brethren, and I rejoice in telling you that it has been accepted. 

Brothers, I have sent a letter to my associate chiefs at home, to in*oim 
them of all this ; I have directed them to send four of my confidents 
and trust -worthy men, with an interpreter, to go as messengers ot peace, 
and forthwith bear to you this my talk. 1 trust that you will take tnem 
by the hand, and smoke the pipe of brotherly friendship with them. 1 
will tell you their names, Te-kah skeh, alias Hair Conrad ; las-ke-net- 
chee, alias Jesse Bushvhead ; Oo-sah-e-tah, alias Richard Fields ; An-nan- 
sta-quah, alias Thomas Woodward, and their interpreter, Te-Iah>kah-quan- 
tah, alias the Polecat. Thev go under the sanction and protection oi our 
father, the President of the United States, and they are accompanied by 
a special agent, Colonel John H. Sherburne, who is sent by our elder 
brother, the Secretary of War, from this city, for that purpose. 

Brothers, my hands are clean, and they have never been stained with 



8 [ Doc. No. 285. ] 

your blood; they are offered to arrest the uplifted weapons of death, and 
to stop the effusion of blood, between a red and a white brother ; for the 
sake of your women and children, I beseech you not to push my hands 
away Mom you, nor to turn your back upon me. I tell you, in the lan- 
guage oi truth, that I have no other interest in this mediation than the 
common good which the blessings of peace bestow on ail mankind J 
do not stop to inqusre who has been in fault, nor to throw blame upon 
you, or upon our white brethren, for what has taken place : it is enough 
for me to hear that cur white brethren say that thev do not desire your 
destruction, ana that they are willing to negotiate peace and friendship 
with you, and to forget all the evils which have transpired between you 
ana them, that you may hereafter hold each other more firmly by 'the 
hand in brotherly love. J : 

Brothers, I will not speak of the great power of the United States 
Government, because you know all about it, as well as I do ; nor will I 
say anything to operate upon your fears ; for I know that a brave people, 
when driven to a state of desperation, would sooner die under the strong- 
arm oi power, than to shrink and die the death of the coward. But I will 
speak -to you as a friend, and with the voice of reason advise you, as a 
small but a brave people, to act the part of a noble race, and at once to 
throw yourselves upon the magnanimity and justice of the American 
people ; for I will again repeat, that our elder brother, the Secretary of 
War, says that the General Government ardently desires to terminate 
this contest, without the further effusion of blood ; and that it would b- 
gratifying to all, who are animated with kind feelings towards their red 
brethren, to see you return to the paths of peace ; that if you desire 
peace, it null be granted you ; and that every kindness and indulgence 
in the power of the Government will be exercised towards you. * 

Brothers, listen ! Can you turn a deaf ear to such kind feelings and gen- 
erous sentiments, and will you prefer war to peace, and the utter ruin of 
your people to their welfare and happiness? I cannot and will not be- 
lieve it. As to the terms upon which your treaty of peace shall be ne- 
gotiated, I hive nothing to say ; that is a matter to be agreed upon be- 
tween you tmd the Government of the United States. 1 have been as- 
sure^, nowever, by the Secretary of War, that you shall be liberally 
compensated for any losses or injuries which you may have sustained by 
the injustice of your white brethren ; and, further, that after peace and 
friendship shall have been restored, should you desire to send a delega- 
tion to pay a visit to your father, the President of the United States for 
the purpose of getting any business confirmed, which may be agreed up- 
on between you and his commissioners, that you shall be permitted to do 
so, lii company with his agent and those of your Cherokee brethren who 
will deliver you this talk. 

Brothers, my talk is over ; I now commend to your friendly reception 
the messengers of peace, who in my name will offer you the right hand 
of friendship and the pipe of peace, which I trust will be accepted and 
smoked with them and our white brethren. May the Great Author of 
human existence be with you in your deliberations, and give you wisdom 
and a pure heart to decide righteously ; for the future prosperity and hap- 
piness of your nation is the sincere prayer of your friend and elder brother 

KOO-WE-SKOO'WE, alias JOHN ROSS 
Washington;, October 18, 1837. 



[ Doc. No. 235. J 9 

b »«. • We Wave heard the talk of our chief to you ; it is a good 
talk "we hope you U rece ve it in the same spirit of kindness in which 

SSe^^;^£ chief goffering you the hand 

of friendship. RICHARD TAYLOR, 

EDWARD GUN TEH, 



JAMES BROWN, 
SAMUEL GUNTER 
ELIJAH HICKS, 
S1TEWAKEE, 
WHITE PATH. 



To Micanopy, (Philip,) 
Coacochee, (Wildcat, 



And o^k7rTof SSgL warriors of tke Seminoles of Florida. 

We hereby ^^^^^S^SS^SSS 
^S^^^^^Ls^ Indians! at a council 
held WW. them at Chickasawhatchee creek, in East Florida, on the oOth 
day of November and the 1st day of December, 1837. 

1 HAIR CONRAD, bis + mark. 



JESSE BUSHYHEAD. 
THOMAS WOODWARD, his + mark. 
RICHARD FIELDS. 
MAJOR POLECAT, his + mark, 

Interpreter. 



No. 3. 



Headquarters, Army of the South, 

St. Augustine, November 13, 1837. 
Gen-tlemen : When I received your note of to-day I was too much 
en.a^d in business connected with the movement of the troops to rep lj 
fowrfing/but I desired my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Chambers, to . in- 
form you° hat I would see you immediately on disposing oi the mat rs 
which then required my attention. The interview which has ust ter- 
minated has been Mglilv satisfactory to me, and I apprecia e lull} the 
b n^Sent andhumane motives which have impelled your ch« ** -order 
and you to undertake, the perilous enterprise in which you piopose to 
en-a-e. I have permitted Coa Had jo and Assun Yahola to send me* 
senVlrs to their people to invite them to come m and surrender with 
the°assurance of protection for the future and oblivion of ti e pa 
have requested these chiefs to inform the chiefs that are ou through 
these messengers, of your presence at headquarters, and of j our humane 
and peaceful mi S 'sion > ; an,! I have authorized the messengers to bear 
any message which you may desire to send to any or all those chiefs. 



10 [ Doc. No. 235. ] 

rh,Vf e r neSS l ? n ! erSW ] ilI , depatt to - mo "'°w; and I desire you to see the 
chiefs Coa Hadjo and Assun Yahola in (he morning, and in their n-es 

Zl ToLT tn * 3SSent ' Cha,g I e , the ™essengers S with whatsoeve^on 
Sructio/s! mea " ' d6S,re a " »*««ic»ted <=°P7 of /our 

My aid will take the copy, and I desire that he and one of your mem- 
bers eertny to its correctness. y 
I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obedient servant 

THOS. S. JESUP, 
Messrs. Rxchard Fields, } ^ 6W " Z c ~^ing. 

H air Conrad, I Cherokee Delegation to the 

i homas W oodward, and f Seminoles. 
Jesse Bushyhead, J 

No. 4. 

Headquarters, Army or the South, 

Fort Mellon, December 1 5, 1 837. 
Gentlemen: I have received your communication of this day's date 
and I seize ; the occasion to assure you of the respect which I entertain 
offill" COl ! ec | 1Ve 'y and »f vidually ; a respect inspired alike by your 
oftcial conduct and personal deportment J 1 .)""' 

sionTutl t% ^ fai ' Ure ° f J0Ur friendly and Philanthropic mis- 
sion, but I shaH, on every proper occasion, bear testimony to the zealou* 

ifflM - aVG madC ' a " d the hazards ^» have encou": 
tered, in fulfilling the duties assigned to you bv your chief 

In common with the majority of my fellow-citizens, I am the friend of 

the ied-man and would rather confer benefits than inflict injuries upon 

h.m. Should the fortune of war place any of the Seminoles or Micka 

suk.es in my hands, they will be treated with kindness, and ever in- 

du! S ence t , wll! . be / x 'ended to them not incompatible with their security. 

As to the chiefs, M.canopy and Cloud, they came in to remain. They 
we, e hostages under the treaty of Fort Dade ; were forcibly carried ol 
and Micanopy at least was on his way to join me at Tampa Bay, where 
he supposed he would find me before he heard of your arrival He is 
aware that I have sent him and the warriors who accompanied him to 
St Augustine, in consequence of the recent conduct of Appiacca and 
other chiefs and their people. vv 

I most ardently desire that the war maybe terminated if nossiblp 
without bloodshed, and I shall avail myse'lf of eV er/foviable P Tccur: 
rence so to terminate it. J 

In returning to. your homes, you have my best wishes for the peace 
prosperity and happiness, of yourselves and your people ; and I am, gen- 
tlemen, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

M „ _ THOS. S. JESUP. 

Messrs. Richard Fields, ] 

Hair Conrad, J 

Thos. Woodward, ] Members of the Cherokee Delegation. 
Jesse Bushyhead, J 



[ Doc. No. 235. ] 11 



No. 5. 

Washington City, January 2, 1838. 
Sir: You have doubtless been informed, through Colonel John H. 

good feelings, from their elder brother he Secreiar y of °n the 

the oeople to so in, and whilst some were coming in, the escape of W W 
cat from the fort at St. Augustine, and other events altogether beyond he 
con ol of the Cherokee deputation, produced a sudden and ""expected 

bd tw? ansa; ? n «=S£ 

Shold o a steamboat, and shipped to the fort at St. Augustine, and he e 
mpHsoned. It is further reported that General Jesup toW some of the^ 
chiefs, that, for the first drop of Wood which might be sp by *e war 
riors Gainst whom he had marched his troops in battle airay, that iney 
the capUve chiefs) shall be hanged ! Under this extraordinary state 
of the affair, it has become my imperious though painf J Ju^£»*e 
defence of my own reputation, as well as that of the deputation woo 
acted under my instructions for carrying out the humane objec^ of tfns 
mediation; also, in justice to the suffering 

confidence in the purity of our motives, as well as in the since* ty ol ne 
Government, by the assurances held out to them .under your *f™<^ 
in mv talk, had thus placed themselves under the flag of t.uce belore 
be Imeri'can army. do hereby most solemnly protest 
unprecedented violation of that sacred rule which has evei been ,eco 
nised by every nation, civilized -and uncivilized, of treating with ,due 
respect those who had ever presented themselves under a flag o! ! tiuce 
before their enemy, for the purpose of proposing the term., at or of a 
warfare. Moreover, I respectfully appeal to and submit foi you. ^ 
eision, whether justice and policy do not require at your hands that these 



12 [ Doc. No. 285. ] 

captives should be forthwith liberated, that they may go and confer with 

To* e tt ! that wh * te ™ ob ^le S may lave been th.own n t l 'e 
wa 3 o, heir coming ,„ (o make peaee may be amoved. In a word 

alhded to are concerned, I feel myself called upon by every sense of 
usUce and honor to ask that they may be released and placed"^ 

of thru- T 6 ' W1 "V he r Pe 7 le > Wh3t t0 d0 ™ der a " circu n tan es 
of the. - affairs as freely and untrammelled as they were previous to the 
councl held with them by the Cherokee mediation, as ft wa ,h roueh 
the influence of the Cherokee talk they had consented to Jo under tfe 
flag of truce into General Jesup's headquarters. The detailed report of 
he deputation of their proceedings on this mission, not havTne as yet 
been tully made out, I have deemed it important to present the {acts herein 

s A:^:lT7 deiay ; and s,iouid ;t be de - ed or 

shall desire it, I will communicate to you the full report of the denota- 
tion, so soon as it may be in readiness. P «puta- 
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient humble servant, 

Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary of War. 

No. 6. 

War Department, 

o' v , , January 8, 1838. 

Sir : Your letter of the 2d inst., in reference to the seizure of certain 
Sera.no e Indians has been received. The subject has been referred " 
General Jesup, and a report respecting it demanded of him. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

John Ross, Esq., Washington city. J ' R ' P0INSETT - 



No. 7. 

Washington Citv, 
„ , ' February 28, 1838. 

Sir : I need not recur to the fact that a deputation of Cherokees was sent 
by me, at the instance of the Government, conducted by Colonel John H 
S m Th h r s Pl cla ' a Sent, to act as mediators with the Seminoles in 
x londa. The Cnerokee deputation accomplished so much of the object in 
view as came within their power, and in such a manner a S to elicit he 

ti n h. If, after their task had ended, measures were taken which chang- 
ed the prospects created by their mediation, they are of course persua- 
ded that you are incapable of considering them responsible for the result. 

The special agent of the United States distinctly stated that the ex- 
penses ol the deputation would be paid by the United States; that thev 
would also receive compensation for their loss of time in endeavoring to 
promote the interests of the United States, and he expressed a convicfion 

neraHn^ 1 ' 633 Tr" b f SUre ' in the even£ of 8uccess > to their remu- 
neration a very liberal one. 



[Doc. No. 285. ] 1^ 

The deputation, after fulfilling their mission, were about to return to 
their own country, when Colonel Sherburne expressly desired that, instead 
of returning thither, they should come on to Washington. He knew that 
if there had been anything imperfect in the result of their endeavors, it 
was not from any causes upon which they ever could have calculated ; 
and he thought, as they themselves did, that they might still have an op- 
nortunity of contributing towards the establishment, so much desired by 
them, of permanent peace, by further efforts, in which they might be better 
sustained, and would thence hope to be thoroughly successful. 

In accordance with the views thus expressed, and the urgent and re- 
peated request of the special agent of the Government, the deputation 
came to Washington. They have been here lor some time. Their ex- 
penses have been very heavy, and still continue so. I beg leave most 
respectfully to submit that these expenses are more than they can sup- 
port. Having been induced by me, as principal chief of their nation, to 
quit their families and their private pursuits, upon this embassy, I feel it 
my duty to ask, has the Government any further desire to employ these 
mediators ? And if not, can they hope to receive the indemnification on 
which they were led to rely, and the means of going back to their homes, 
without any of these continued delays, which embarrass them still more 
oppressively with expense ? 

I would also ask, in the event of any difficulty upon this matter, so im- 
portant to them, though so small to the United States, that it may be di- 
rectly submitted to his excellency the President, for his decision.^ 

With entire reliance on the fairness and considerateness of the Govern- 
ment in relation to this affair, I have the honor to be, sir, most respect- 
fully, your very obedient humble servant, 

J JNO. ROSS. 

Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, 

Secretary of War. 



No. 8. 

D E P A K T M E ^J^Uti' A H , 

2, 1S3S, 

Sir: Although much indisposed, I hasten to rejfl Pyour letter of 
the 23th February, in order to relieve the members^^|fdeiegation, to 
whom it alludes, from any unnecessary delay and increased expense. I 
had no intimation, until a few days ago, that those persons were waiting in 
Washington for orders from this Department, and then expressed my un- 
feio-ned^astonishment that such a misunderstanding should have existed. 

The Department authorized Mr. Sherburne to proceed to Florida 
with the delegation of Cherokees, in order, if practicable, to induce the 
Seminoles to comply with the treaty stipulations, and remove to the 
lands allotted to them west of the Mississippi. Having assembled a nu- 
merous and well-appointed army for the purpose of enforcing the treaty, 
if necessary, the Department thought it both humane and politic to pro- 
pose peace to the Indians, before they resorted to arms. This delega- 
tion was selected for that purpose; how they discharged this sacred 



14 



[ Doc. No. 285. J 



obligation is not now a matter of praise nor censure. An investigation 
into all the circumstances of that mission will be made, and full justice 
shall be done to them. With regard to their compensation, it was believed 
by the Department, that, animated by motives of humanity, they sought 
no other remuneration than to be agents of restoring peace, and prevent- 
ing the further effusion of blood. What Congress might have thought 
proper to have bestowed upon them, had they been successful, is now 
a useless inquiry. This Department intended to defray their expenses 
to and from Florida. Their coming to Washington was unauthorized, 
and entirely unnecessary, and the Department would have objected to 
it, had it not supposed that they came to unite with the Cherokees, now 
here on business unsanctioned and disapproved by the Department, but 
over which it has no control, fn reply, therefore, to your interroga- 
tories, I beg to state that the Government has no further desire to em- 
ploy those mediators; and, further, that it did not regard them as being 
in the service beyond a reasonable time for their return from Florida to 
the Cherokee nation. 

Upon their account for expenses to and from Florida, vouched by Mr. 
Sherburne, being presented at the Indian bureau, it will be allowed 
and paid. 

I have, agreeably to your request, submitted your letter to the Presi- 
dent, and he approves ot this reply. 

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 

■ J. K. POINSETT. 

Mr. John Ross, 

Washington city. 



No. 9. 

Washington City, March 5, 1838. 

Sir : Although I do nut wish unnecessarily to prolong a correspond- 
ence upon the subject of my last letter, there are one or two points of 
your reply to it J^ich I feel it to be a duty to myself and to the medi- 
ators whom I ca J Jk to visit Florida for the United States Government, 
not to pass ovejijKut some explanation on my part, and some inquiry'. 

You remark of the, mediators, that it " was believed by the Depart- 
ment that, animated f|y motives of humanity, they sought no other remu- 
neration than tolrWagents for restoring peace and preventing the further 
effusion of blood." I beg leave to explain, that when Colonel Sher- 
burne applied to me on this subject, after having myself come to a per- 
sonal understanding in regard to it with your Government, I exerted 
myself, with a most sincere and disinterested desire to end the war. f 
expected no remuneration ; I have sought no remuneration. But to* the 
persons whom I appointed from the nation, Colonel Sherburne, as the 
agent of the Government, ot his own accord, promised compensation, and 
a further certain remuneration. If this had been looked upon as of para- 
mount importance, it would have been made the subject of a special 
contract at the time ; but it was not; it was left entirely open, the persons 
employed, who all have large families depending on their respective 
labors for support, not doubting but the United States Government 



[ Doc. No. 285. J 15 

would fulfil the promise made to them by their agent. I have already 
explained that it was at the instance of Colonel Sherburne they came 
to Washington ; that his wish was urged by solicitations, at first resisted 
by some of them, but so strongly and so repeatedly pressed by him, that 
they finally assented. I, as the person who first sent these mediators, ask 
no compensation ; but the persons deputed by me, though they expect 
nothing for having freely risked their lives, can scarcely afford the pe- 
cuniae loss to their families caused by their long absence. 

In reference to your remark concerning " an investigation of all the 
circumstances of that mission," I beg leave to ask whether I am to infer 
from this hint that there are any charges against the mediators before the 
Department, which call for investigation ? I make this question for the 
purpose of relieving my mind from the difficulty I feel in comprehend- 
ing; the scope of your remark ; though I am at a loss to understand how 
any investigation can be fairly entered into without first apprizing the 
parties to whom it relates, whether there are any complaints against 
them, what those complaints are, by whom they are made, and in what 
manner thev are to be examined. Your own sense of justice will ren- 
der it unnecessary for me to apologize for troubling you with this request. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your very obedient servant, 

JNO. ROSS. 

Hon. J. R. Poinsett, 

Secretary of War. 



No. 10. 

Department of War, 

March 7, 1S38. 

Sir : Your letter of the 5th instant, on the subject of an allowance to 
the Cherokee delegates to the Seminoles, has been received. In reply, 
I inform you that an allowance to each, of five dollars per day, will be 
made for the time they were actually employed in the service of the Gov- 
ernment ; that is, from the period of their departure from the Cherokee 
nation to' that at which they might have returned there, had they not de- 
viated from their route, after the termination of the negotiations in Flori- 
da, to come to Washington. > . 

Very respectfully, your most obediejifwvant, 

J.fJIpPOlNSETT 

John Ross, Esq., Washington city. 



No. 11. 

Washington City, 

March 8, 1838. 

Sir: Permit me to thank you for having admitted, to a certain extent, 
the propriety of fulfilling the expectation created by the United States 
ag;ent in the mind of the mediators with the Seminoleans. At the same 
time I trust you will pardon me for^exhibiting before you certain reasons 
for extending your justice to the residue of the indemnification on which 
they were induced to rely. I am persuaded that, on due consideration 



16 



[ Doc. No. 285. ] 



of the particulars I have to mention, you will at once be convinced that 
these persons ought not to be made so largely the losers by their good 
will towards the United States, as they must be if the unasked promise 
made to them by her agent should be. forgotten. 

The scope of the evidence I have to lay before you, is, to show that if 
the mediators with the Seminoleans came to Washington, after leaving 
Florida, without your orders, they also came without mine ; but that, as 
their coming was at the express and often and earnestly repeated solici- 
tation of your special agent, and growing out of circumstances which 
seemed to impose on him the necessity for exercising a discretionary 
power, it must be more proper that the United States should make up to 
them for the loss of time so caused by her representative, than that the 
individuals thus officially misled should be left liable for it; especially as 
the mediators themselves considered, and had every reason for consider- 
ing, the United States, through her agent, as being distinctly and volun- 
tarily pledged to them upon the subject. 

Perhaps you may have forgotten the circumstance which arose at the 
very moment when Micanopy and the chiefs associated with him were 
captured under a flag of truce. The Cherokee mediators, in whose 
presence this occurred, no sooner recovered from their astonishment, 
than they asked to clear themselves from the appearance of treachery, in 
the mind of the Seminoleans, who had unhesitatingly come, through 
their means, into the lines of the army, for negotiation, and there lost 
their liberty. Soldiers were just then hurrying the captives on board a 
steamboat. General Jesup would not permit the mediators to commu- 
nicate, personally, with the individuals who had been thus entrapped and 
taken from their side. The mediators then entreated the general him- 
self, on their behalf, to make the explanations so necessary to the vindi- 
cation of their honor towards the chiefs who, through a reliance on them, 
had fallen into the snare. This also he declined ; but added, that they 
would themselves be allowed an interview with the prisoners at the fort 
of St. Augustine, about one hundred miles distant, whither they were 
then being conveyed. 

The reasons for the anxiety of the Cherokee mediators on this subject 
were peculiarly ^cogent. Unless fully cleared from suspicion, what 
might be the consequence, should any of the Cherokees and Seminoleans 
at some future tirijjflK be neighbors? Merited distrust and scorn ! perma- 
nent and deadly wpapr ! How were they to be looked upon by their 
red brethren, generally, if they could not convince the victims them- 
selves that they (the Cherokees) were innocent? How would they be 
viewed by the world at large, if any one could brand them as the willing 
tools to ensnare the confiding, under the sacredness of a flag of truce, 
which is respected by enemies the most ferocious, and by spirits the 
most untameable, throughout the peopled earth ? 

On the arrival of the Cherokee mediators at St. Augustine, they found 
that Oseola and some others, who had been captured previously, in a 
manner equally unexpected, had been already placed in the same fort 
which became the prison of Micanopy and the rest. Colonel Sher- 
burne, the United States agent, who accompanied them, requested an 
interview with the captives, for himself, officially, and for the Cherokee 
mediators. Captain Webster, the commandant of the fort, received 



[ Doc. No. 285. ] 



17 



Colonel Sherburne and the Cherokees in his own room. Colonel Sher- 
burne expressed a wish to make some confidential communications to 
the Seminolean leaders, and only to the leaders, in presence of the 
Cherokee deputation. The leaders were called in. The Cherokee 
mediators explained to the Seminoleans that they were thoroughly inno- 
cent of the violation of the flag of truce ; that they had acted in perfect 
good faith, and with an honest hope of being able to bring about an hon- 
orable peace. The Seminoleans at length acknowledged that they dis- 
missed from their mind all suspicion of treachery, on the part of their 
Cherokee brethren. The mediators stated that they would make the 
affair a subject of formal complaint to their principal chief, who would 
seek redress for seizure of the Seminoleans from the United States na- 
tional authorities at Washington. Colonel Sherburne expressed his be- 
lief that the remonstrance would be respected. He then asked, stating 
that he did so at the instance of General Jesup, whether, in the event of 
the United States Government securing to the Seminoleans a country 
stretching from Tampa Bay to the eastern shore, the Seminoleans would 
guard that part of the frontier, for the United States, from foreign inva- 
sion ; whether they would deliver up all runaway American slaves who 
might seek refuge among them, and end the war in friendship and good 
faith. The chiefs appeared surprised. They said it was only to obtain 
these ends that they were fighting. Colonel Sherburne then followed 
up the suggestion thus : suppose such a proposition as he had named 
were sanctioned at Washington ; suppose he were to return from Wash- 
ington, to take back some chiefs, for the purpose of ratifying a treaty 
there on the conditions he had named, would any of those to whom he 
now spoke return with him? If any, which? Each replied, one by 
one, that he himself would. Philip was the only one who qualified his 
assent ; Philip would only assent, when thoroughly convinced that the 
word given by the United States was not intended to be broken ; but 
Oseola, plucking a white plume from his brow, gave it, with a scarf, to 
Colonel Sherburne, exclaiming, " Present these to our white father, in 
token that Oseola will do as you have said." 

It was now understood on all hands that the mediation, at any rate, 
had been thus far successful. The mediators at length arrived, with 
Colonel Sherburne, at Savannah. They considered their mission at an 
end, and were preparing to return to their homes ; but Colonel Sherburne 
would not consent to their return. One of them $ emonstrated very 
strongly against further detention, but Colonel Sherburne represented 
so earnestly the importance of their all accompanying him to Washing- 
ton, enforcing his own persuasions by those of a friend, that the Chero- 
kees were impelled to sacrifice their individual interests to those of the 
United States, for which (hey were thus led to believe the Government 
thought their co-operation desirable. There was no contract made on 
the subject of expenses, nor of indemnification, on this occasion, more 
than on the former, when a specific compensation was proffered, without 
having been asked. Nevertheless, as the service was continued, it was 
but reasonable to suppose that the indemnification was to be understood 
as continuing also. How could the mediators better afford the loss of 
time now, than previously ? Their expenses were augmented by travel 
and residence in a more expensive region. By protracted absence, and 
2 



18 



[ Doc. No. 285. J 



by the advance of that part of the season which most peculiarly demanded 
their personal attention on their own farms, their inconveniences and 
losses also were augmented. How, therefore, could they be expected, 
gratuitously, to give their means and efforts for the United States at one 
part of such an agency, more than at another ? Could they have guessed 
that both in their outlay and their object they could have been left in the 
lurch, is it to be imagined they would have consented to throw away so 
much money, time, and trouble ? Surely, it is unprecedented to stop a 
payment, merely because a service is to go on ; and that there were ir- 
resistible reasons for the mediators to consider themselves, and for me 
and others to consider them, as being retained for specific purposes of 
usefulness, in a vocation which they did not solicit, proofs innumerable 
can be given, though I will confine myself to the few which follow, and 
which 1 cannot but believe you will consider all-sufficient. 

On the arrival of the mediators at Washington, 1 had, of course, no 
doubt that Colonel Sherburne had faithfully reported the circumstance to 
the Department, with the facts which led to it ; and I could not, there- 
fore, have entertained the slightest supposition that they were not con- 
sidered as much " actually employed in the service of the Government, 5 " 
at that time, as at any time before. I beg leave to remind you, as an 
evidence that 1 had convincing grounds for this impression, of my inter- 
view with you, sir, when, immediately on the arrival of the mediators, I 
had the honor of meeting you, with them and Colonel Sherburne. It 
was after I had sent in my protest, in which I asked " whether justice 
and policy did not require at your hands that the Seminoleans should be 
forthwith liberated, that they might go and confer with their people ; 
and that whatever obstacles might have been thrown in the way of their 
coming to make peace might be removed." At the interview to which 
I allude, the Florida affair was named, and you stated the protest had 
been received, and should be attended to. To this I answered, that if 
the Department still desired the services of the mediators, and my own 
sentiments as to the course most likely to succeed with the Seminoleans, 
they were at your service. Your reply was a bow, which it was impos- 
sible for me to interpret otherwise than as an assent, especially when I 
presently afterwards received your note, stating that the protest had been 
referred, and a report on the circumstances demanded of General Jesup. 
What was the natural, the unavoidable, inference ? I could not but sup- 
pose a report would arrive forthwith. I could not but suppose that, on 
the arrival of a fair report, my request for the release of the captives 
would necessarily be complied with. 1 could not but suppose that, on 
your compliance with my request for the release of the captives, and for 
their return to their countrymen, for the purpose of bringing about a 
peace, the mediators would be employed once more to second that pur- 
pose ; and that you of course expected them to wait here until you could 
receive the information which must precede your carrying that purpose 
into effect. 1 cannot myself perceive how any such misunderstanding 
could have arisen, as the one which you name, in relation to these medi- 
ators. It seems to me perfectly inexplicable how it could ever have been 
imagined that they came to Washington merely to join a delegation 
already here, for well-known objects. Their original appointment, the 
official talk they bore, their constant association with your special agent. 



[ Doc. No. 285. ] 



his earnest request for them to come, my own communications concerning 
them after they were here, all concur to show that they were a special 
deputation, chosen for a special object, actually employed in that very 
special object, brought hither by your agent against their wish and my 
instructions, for the identical special object, and retained here, under 
the impressions unavoidably growing out of your own conversations and 
correspondence, also, for the selfsame special object. In my conviction 
that that special object was still steadily in view, 1 was not shaken until 
I found, not only that no report appeared from General Jesup upon the 
circumstances set forth in my protest, but that, in opposition to my pro- 
test, and to the course which appeared to me certain after the promised 
consideration of the case, the prisoners who had been taken under the 
flag of truce were actually, instead of being released, already transported, 
under an escort, west of the Mississippi, and nothing further said upon 
r the subject. In this state of the affair, you may imagine my surprise and 
mortification, when I was told by you that you regarded the presence of 
the mediators at Washington as unauthorized, and that you had heard 
of it with astonishment. I can readily believe, however, that in the mul- 
tiplicity of high demands upon your attention, the particulars I have de- 
tailed may, for the moment, have escaped your recollection ; and I am 
fully peisuaded that, on recalling them, you will think the same reasons 
which have impelled your fulfilment of a part of the unasked promises of 
your agent, equally applicable to the whole of them. 

Believe me, sir, you cannot find it more irksome to listen to these rep- 
resentations than I do to feel myself under the necessity of making them. 
But when any of my people have been led, without solicitation on their 
part, to rely on promises for services to which they have, with great loss 
and inconvenience to themselves, sacrificed time and prospects of great 
value to them, you will yourself confess that I should be doing them ex- 
treme injustice were I to leave their case unrepresented. But it gives 
me great satisfaction to believe, that merely to represent it will be quite 
sufficient ; for I am persuaded that the moment you distinctly see how 
strong the reasons are why the mediators should be shielded from the 
vast injury they must incur by being left unsatisfied, you are incapable 
of permitting them to be longer liable for the expenses of journeys and 
of a delay so costly ; to say nothing of time wasted in mere fruitless at- 
tendance here, time upon which their families have a claim, and by the 
loss of which their wives and children must suffer. 

In conclusion, permit me to remind you that there is a part of my last 
letter, in reference to your hint of an investigation, to which I do not 
find any reply in yours. 

I have the honor to be, sir, most respectfully, your very obedient hum- 
ble servant, 

JNO. ROSS, 

To the Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, 

Secretary of War, 



20 



[ Doc. No. 285. ] 



No. 12. 

Department of War, 

March 17, 1838. 
Sir : Your letter of the 8th instant has been received. 
My decision relative to the compensation of the Cherokees, who acted 
as mediators with the Seminoles, cannot be changed. 
Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 

J. R. POINSETT. 

John Ro,§s, Esq., Washington city. 



No. 13. 

The United States, in account with Hair Conrad, Dr. 

For services on a mission of peace to the Seminoles of Florida, under 
the appointment of John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee nation, 
and the escort of Colonel John H. Sherburne, special agent of the 
United States, commencing from the 28th day of October, 1837, up 
to the 4th day of April, 1838, inclusive, making 159 days, at $5 per 
day, - $795 00 

Paid for horse hire, for conveying Mr. Woodward and myself 
from home to Spring Place, where we took the stage for 
Augusta, Georgia, on our way to Florida, including ex- 
pense for diet, - - - - 5 621 

Contingent expenses, medicine, &c. - 6 00 

A. Fuller's bill, for board and lodging from the 30th Decem- 
ber, 1837, to the 22d March, inclusive, - - 208 00 

Estimate for expenses for returning home to the Cherokee 

nation, - - - - 70 00 



$1,084 62£ 

Office of Indian Affairs, 

March 20, 1838. 

According to directions received from the Secretary of War, the 
whole amount of the first item above ($795) cannot be allowed. So 
much of it as is for services from the day the claimant left home till the 
day he could have returned to it, if he had not deviated from the proper 
route, will be paid. 

The second can be paid. 

The third can be paid, if the expenditure occurred during the time 
they are to receive compensation. 

No part of the fourth or fifth can be allowed. 

Colonel Sherburne's certificate should accompany the accounts, and 
they should be made out anew, in conformity to the principles above set 
forth, 

C. A. HARRIS, Commissioner. 

Approved : 

J. R. P. 



[ Doe. No. 285. j 



21 



The United States, in account with Jesse Bushyhead, Dr. 

For services on a mission of pp.ace to the Seminoles of Florida, under 
the appointment of John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee nation, 
and the escort of Colonel John H. Sherburne, special agent of the 
United States, commencing from the 30th day of October, 1837, up 
to the 4th day of April, 1838. inclusive, making 157 days, at $5 per 
day, - - - - $785 00 

Paid for horse hire, and conveyance from home to Coosa- 
watee, where I took the stage for Augusta, on my way to 
Augusta, - - - - 5 00 

Contingent expenses, consisting of medicine, barber's bill, &c, 8 00 

A. Fuller & Go's bill for board and lodging, from the 30th 

December, 1837, to the 22d March, inclusive, - 211 69 

Estimate for expenses for returning to the Cherokee nation, 70 00 

$1,079 69 



Office of Indian Affairs, 

March 20, 1838. 

According to directions received from the Secretary of War the 
whole amount of the first item above ($795) cannot be allowed. So 
much of it as is for services from the day the claimant left home till the 
day he could have returned to it, if he had not deviated from the proper 
route, will be paid. 

The second can be paid. 

The third can be paid, if the expenditure occurred during the time 
they are to receive compensation. 

No part of the fourth or fifth can be allowed. 

Colonel Sherburne's certificate should accompany the accounts, and 
they should be made out anew, in conformity to the principles above set 
forth. 

C. A. HARRIS, Commissioner. 

Approved : 

J. R. P. 



The United Slates, in account with Thomas Woodward, Dr. 

For services on a mission of peace to the Seminoles of Florida, under 
the appointment of John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee nation, 
and the escort of Colonel John H. Sherburne, special agent of the 
United States, commencing from the 28th day of October, 1837, up to 
the 4th day of April, 1838, inclusive, making one hundred and fifty- 
nine days, at $5 per day, - $795 00 

For contingent expenses, doctors' fees, medicines, barber's 

bill, &c. - - - - 12 00 

A, Fuller & Go's bill for board and lodging, from the 30th 

December, 1837, to the 22d of March, inclusive, - 207 69 

Estimate for expenses for returning home to the Cherokee 

nation, .... 70 00 

$^084 69 



22 



[ Doc. No. 285. J 



Office of Indian Affairs, 

March 20, 1838. 

According to directions received from the Secretary of War, the whole 
amount of the first item above ($795) cannot be allowed. So much of 
it as is for services from the day the claimant left home till the day he 
could have returned to it, if he had not deviated from the proper route, 
will be paid. 

The second can be paid, if the expenditure occurred during the time 
they are to receive compensation. 

No part of the third or fourth can be allowed. 

Colonel Sherburne's certificate should accompany the accounts, and 
they should be made out anew, in conformity to the principles above set 
forth, 

Co A. HARRIS, Commissioner. 

Approved : 

J. R, P, 



The United States , in account with Richard Fields, Dr. 

For services as a mediator of peace to the Seminoles of Florida, under 
the appointment of John Ross, principal chief of Cherokee nation, 
and the escort of ColonelJohn H. Sherburne, special agent of the United 
States, commencing from the 16th of September, 1837, up to the 4th 
of April, 1838, inclusive, making two hundred and one days, at $5 per 
day, - -$1,005 00 

Expenses from the 16th September to the 8th October, in 

going to Augusta, including fare, &c. - - 75 00 

From the 8th October to the 28tb, inclusive, by returning 
from Augusta to the Cherokee agency and back again to 
Augusta, by request of Colonel Sherburne, - - 145 00 

Furnished my associates with - - - 20 00 

Fare from Augusta to Charleston, - - - 7 75 

Bill in Charleston, including washing and incidentals, three 

days, - - - - - 10 00 

Steamboat fare from Charleston to Savannah, - - 10 00 

From Savannah to Garey's Ferry, - - - 14 00 

Incidentals on the way, - - - 5 00 

Fare from Carey's Ferry to St. Augustine, - 2 00 

Twelve days' board at St. Augustine, including washing, 

medical aid, and incidentals, - - 32 00 

Presented a fine silk turban to Oseola, - - - 7 00 

Furnished Oseola with various little necessaries, and other 

presents for his family, - - - - 10 00 

Presented a fine sash to Coa Hadjo, - - - 12 00 

Made small presents to his family, - - - 3 00 

Gave to the chiefs three pounds of tobacco, at 75 cents, - 2 25 
Gave to the chiefs five pounds, at 50 cents, - - 2 50 

^ave to the chiefs smoking tobacco, - - - l 50 

Furnished ourselves with cakes and candy, to carry into the 

interior of FlorRaD 1" 2. 8 " ' " " 4 50 

- M.£ 



[ Doc. No. 285. ] 



23 



Bought paper and quills, - $00 75 

Presented pipes to the chiefs, to the amount of - - 12 00 

Presented to various Indians 10 bead chains, at 75 cents, - 7 50 
Fare from St. Augustine to Fort Mellon, - - 5 00 

Bill at Fort Mellon, including comforts for myself and asso- 
ciates, washing, &c. - - - - 35 37£ 
Bought five pounds of tobacco, at 75 cents, - - 3 75 
Bought a piece dried beef, - - - - 1 75 
Bought beef in the hostile camp of the Seminoles, on the head 

of the St. John's, - - - - 1 50 

Presented cloth vest to Nocose Yahola, chief of rank, - 5 00 

Presented three blankets to different chiefs, - 7 50 

Presented divers other things, not recollected, - - 10 00 

Fare from Fort Mellon to St. Augustine, on my return home- 
ward, - 
Bill at St. Augustine, on my return, 

From St. Augustine to Charleston, steward's charge on board 
steamboat, . - 
Bill in Charleston, Planters' Hotel, 
Bill for hack hire, - 
Fare from Charleston to Washington city, 
Bill at Fuller's, - 

Amount necessary to pay my expenses home, 
Physician's bill in Washington, 



Gave cloth coat and pantaloons, as a present to an Indian, 
Paid for barber's bill, &c, on the trip, - 



2 


00 


5 


37§ 


2 


50 


5 


50 


1 


00 


45 


50 


250 


00 


75 


00 


15 


00 


$1,860 


50 


25 


00 


9 


50 


$1,895 


00 



The United States, in account with Major Polecat , Dr. 

For services as an interpreter to the Cherokee mediation, on a mission 
of peace to the Seminoles of Florida, under the appointment of John 
Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee nation, and the escort of Colo- 
nel John H. Sherburne, special agent of the United States, commencing 
from the 28th of October, 1837, up to the 4th of April, 1838, inclusive, 
making 159 days, at $5 per day, - - - $795 00 

Paid for horse hire and conveyance to Coosawatee, where I 

took the stage for Augusta, Georgia, on my way to Florida, 5 00 

Contingent expenses, consisting of medicine, barber's bill, 

&c. - - - - 7 50 

A. Fuller & Go's bill, for board and lodging from the 30th of 

December, 1837, to the 22d of March, inclusive, - 209 57 

Estimate for expenses for returning home to the Cherokee 

nation, - - - - - 70 00 



$1,087 07 



21 



[ Doc. No. 285. ] 



Office of Indian Affairs, 

March 20, 1838, 

According to directions received from the Secretary of War, the whole 
amount of the first item above ($795) cannot be allowed. So much of 
it as is for services from the day the claimant left home till the day he 
could have returned to it, if he had not deviated from the proper route, 
will be paid. 

The second can be paid. 

The third can be paid, if the expenditure occurred during the time 
they are to receive compensation. 

No part of the fourth or fifth can be allowed. 

Colonel Sherburne's certificate should accompany the accounts, and 
they should be made out anew, in conformity to the principles above set 
forth. 

C. A. HARRIS, Commissioner. 

Approved : 

J. R. P. 



